Good luck getting any satisfaction. After hurricane Ivan, AL Power had another company called Asplundh come through and trim trees. They butchered one of my old pecan trees. They cut the branches 10ft away from the lines. They even drove on my property creating gullies all in my yard. I have since fenced off the area to where they cant drive in anymore unless I let them.

Terry,

"Property owners should review the power line easement document and become familiar with its provisions."

I remember that we had to sign a AP power line easement after buying this property; however, we failed to get a copy. :-(

You may want to email AL Power and asked about the power line easement.

Terry - i hate to hear those trees were ruined, they were GORGEOUS. The tree services are notorious for that. They have done it to Jan(tweetypye) before, and to me too, although not to this extent. Good luck and keep us posted.

Terry,

Contact the Alabama Urban Forestry Association. That organization does a great deal of the educating of utility people and assists arborists in becoming certified. There will be someone in your area (I'm sure) who might be able to come and look at the trees, and help you make an official complaint.

Correct utility pruning SHOULD done with several things in mind: preventing disruption of utility service, safety, and tree care. Though it (utility pruning) often looks absolutely horrid to anyone's eyes, proper pruning practices are recommended, and in many communities, ENFORCED. Leaving stubs is never correct.

Anyway, in a community where I once used to live, we mandated that the utility contractors contact our City Forester PRIOR to doing their routine street pruning. That way, the forester or I (as a consultant) could check up on them, in a constructive manner. We also mandated that all arborists that did ANY work for the city be ISA certified. (Boy, did that raise some dust!)

I'd suggest that you begin collecting names, if you haven't already. Not only of the arborists, but of those staff members who were less that helpful.

Email me, if you want to. I'm still involved with AUFA.

Here is a link that might be useful: Try these folks

Sorry to hear of your problem with APC....as Rosey said they did butcher her trees, but thank goodness I was home when they attempted to "drive" through my yard in their huge trucks...I dared them to step foot on my place...and insisted they send someone of authority to my place to speak to me prior to cutting anything. They did...and we discussed just what could be cut off my trees! The day they came to cut, they wouldn't trim a thing without asking me first!! So, no butchered trees for me, thank goodness..I hope you get some satifaction for this horrible incident...
Jan

The APCO guy came by today to look at what is left of my trees. Sylvia said he was very nice and accommodating. He agreed Burford Tree Svc over-did-it. Of course it is too late to do anything about it. He said he didn't understand how this happened because Mo, the tree cutting supervisor, was usually on-top-of-things. As a sop to us he offered to remove a couple of limbs which are brushing the front roof. Sylvia and I discussed it and we may as well get what we can from them. How cynical is that? I am not giving in, though. I am writing APCO CEO McCrary asking him to change his policy about tree trimming. I am writing him and the Public Service Commission asking APCO to get permission and explain in writing exactly what work will be done when it is in someone's yard. APCO by law can trim the trees, but they should not be able to butcher them, especially when they are in someone's front yard. I haven't thrown in the towel, yet.

That makes me angry and sick just to think about it! Why don't people respect trees??